A Dutton Chronology

The chronology below was taken from pages xix - xxvi of the
"Duttons of Dutton" genealogy which Colin Dutton found
in the Manchester Central Library. The text contains the British
spelling and diction prevalent at the time the genealogy was
compiled.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF
INCIDENTS IN CONNECTION WITH
THE DUTTON FAMILY
A. D. 1066-1784

1066

Odard, the Norman ancestor, with his five
brothers, came over from Avranches in Normandy, in the army of William the Conqueror. [probably later]

1086

Odard established at Dutton (Duntune) in
Cheshire, where he owned a third part of the township, at
the time of the Domesday Survey. The remaining portions
were acquired by his descendants in 1341 and 1354.

1187-89

Sir Geoffrey de Dutton served upon the
second or third crusade to the Holy land. (Ancestor of
the Warburtons of Warburton and Arley.)

c. 1216

Hugh de Dutton granted the jurisdiction
over the Cheshire minstrels by the constable of Chester.

c. 1236

Hugh de Dutton built Poosey chapel within the demesne of Dutton.

c. 1272

Sir Thomas de Dutton, the first knight of the family, added the chapel at Dutton.

8 Dec 1276

Birth of Hugh de Dutton, baptized at Great Budworth the following day. In 1315 he sued the
prior of Norton for not providing a chaplain and lamp at
Poosey chapel.

1 Jan 1293

(Sir) Peter de Dutton knighted by Edward I.

11 July 1300

Siege of Caerlaverock. Hugh le Despencer, present at the siege, bore the Dutton arms differenced
with a bend. (Roll of Caerlaverock.)

1309

Robert de Dutton represented
Staffordshire in parliament; and again in 1314, 1319,
1321, 1328, 1329, and 1333. (A Robert de Dutton is
mentioned in the military accounts as in the retinue of
lord Audley. He may have been the Dutton who is said to
have been one of the four esquires who fought beside lord
Audley at Poictiers.)

1314

John de Dutton and Robert de Dutton, summoned to
perform military service in person against the Scotch
(June 30), to muster at Newcastle-on-Tyne on August 15
following. (Scotch Roll, 8 Edw. II.)

19 Sep 1356

Battle of Poictiers. A member of this family is said
to have been one of the four esquires who, according to
Froissart, fought beside lord Audley in the battle. The
"fret" in the Dutton arms is traditionally, but
improbably, said to have been then adopted by desire of
lord Audley, being his own arms or badge in memory of
that occasion.

16 Dec 1359

Letters of protection granted to Thomas de Dutton
while absent beyond sea in the retinue of the Prince of
Wales, the "Black Prince".

1379

Sir Thomas de Dutton founded a chantry at Warrington
with a priest to pray for his soul and for the souls of
his two wives and of his family and of his wives'
relations yearly forever, and their names to be entered
in the convent's martyrology.

1379

Agnes de Dutton elected prioress of the Benedictine
nunnery of St. Mary's, Chester. Died 1386.

1 May 1381

Death of Sir Thomas de Dutton.

c. 1390

Hugh Dutton, second son of Edmund de Dutton, became
lord of Hatton, near Chester, in right of his wife, the
Vernon coheiress. (From Hatton later, the family branched
to Chester, Holt in Denbighshire, Cloughton in Yorkshire
and Sherborne in Gloucestershire.)

3 Nov 1403

Sir Peter de Dutton, pardoned for taking part with Henry Percy, surnamed Hotspur.

1403-4

Sir Peter de Dutton ordered by writ from the prince
of Wales to hasten and take up his abode, on the marches
of Wales, and there to make defence against the invasion
of Owen Glendower (Jan. 11).

1405

Hugh de Dutton commissioned to conduct men-at-arms to the marches.

1410

Sir Peter de Dutton had licence to empark the manor of Dutton.

25 Oct 1415

Battle of Agincourt. Sir Thomas Dutton, with 10
men-at-arms and 30 mounted archers in the retinue of
Henry V., and Laurence Dutton, in the retinue of the earl
of Huntingdon, present at the battle. Sir Thomas received
as security for the payment of his wages, a tablet of
gold, with the Trinity on the top and beneath their feet
the Virgin Mary; on the foot of the table were the three
kings of Cologne. It was garnished with twenty-seven
large pearls, seven of them worth five marks each, and
the other twenty worth 30d. each, weighing 5 lb. 1 oz.,
which had been given by the city of London to Richard II.
in 1392, then valued at £800. It was redeemed by the
Crown 4 Henry VI.

6 Apr 1417

Sir Thomas de Dutton obliged to set aside £60 yearly,
for three years, to defray the debts which he had
incurred upon the voyage with the king to Harfleur.
(Chester Recognizance Rolls.) The siege and captureof
Harfleur took place in the month preceding the battle of
Agincourt.

23 Sep 1459

Sir Thomas de Dutton, with his brother John Dutton,
and his eldest son Peter Dutton, killed at the battle of
Blore heath, in Cheshire, Sunday, during the Wars of the
Roses.

18 Jun 1462

Grant to John Dutton, of Hatton, of the frithmote of
the forest of Mara and Mondrem, until he should have
satisfied himself out of the issues of the same, for
£100, expended by him in attending at the king's command
at Chester with certain men. (Chester Recognizance
Rolls.)

24 Jan 1476

Dutton archives. Warrant for the conveyance to the
Exchequer at Chester of two chests containing charters,
etc., of all the possessions of Roger Dutton, esq.,
deceased, which were then in the earl of Chester's hands,
by the minority of Laurence Dutton, the son and heir,
with note of their delivery. (Chester Recognizance
Rolls.)

1481

Peter Dutton, of Hatton, father of sir Piers Dutton. Outlawed for a raid.

1496

Peter Dutton, lieut.-governor of the Isle of Stan.

1499

The Crown challenged the right of the Duttons' jurisdiction over the minstrels and vagrants of Cheshire
and admitted it.

1500

Lady Strangways, then of York (formerly Mrs. Dutton
of Dutton), bequeathed her red velvet bonnet to her
daughter in law at Dutton to pray for her soul.

c. 1507

Birth of Thomas Dutton, descended from the Duttons of
Hatton and Dutton, founder of the Sherborne branch of the
family. Graduated at Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1523.
(Aged 74 at his death in 1581.)

1527

Death of Laurence Dutton, of Dutton, without heir
male, by which the Dutton property passed to sir Piers
Dutton of Hatton, whose right was contested by the
heirs-general of sir Hugh Dutton.

14 Dec 1533

The abbot, prior and monks of Winchcombe abbey, in
Gloucestershire, leased the manor of Sherborne in that
county to sir John Alleyn, knight, for ninety-nine years
at a peppercorn rent, while secretly receiving a large
sum of money for the same, in view of the approaching
dissolution of monasteries. (Original lease signed by the
abbot, prior, and twenty-three monks at Sherborne house.)

16 May 1534

Termination of the Dutton lawsuit, by award of Henry
VIII., by which sir Piers Dutton of Hatton became owner
of Dutton, confirmed by Act of Parliament in 1536.

1536

Suppression of monasteries. Sir Piers Dutton
appointed one of the commissioners for the abbey of Vale
Royal. Quelled an insurrection at Norton abbey and
arrested the prior and canons. Thanked by Henry VIII.

1539

Sir Piers Dutton and dame Julian, his second wife,
commenced the new hall at Dutton. Completed in 1549.

17 Aug 1545

Death of sir Piers Dutton, of Dutton and Hatton.

1551

Thomas Dutton acquired the manor of Sherborne, in
Gloucestershire, from sir Christopher Alleyn, having
previously been established there.

1567

Richard Dutton, mayor of Chester. "He kept house
at the White Friars, and in all the twelve days of
Christmas kept open house for meat and drink at meal-time
for any that came. All the Christmas-time there was a
lord of misrule" (MS., Mayors of Chester).

1571-74

John Bruen, afterwards the noted puritan layman,
brought up at his uncle Dutton's at Dutton, "where
by occasion of musicians and a chest of viols kept in the
house, he was drawn by desire and delight into the
dancing school, where he profited so well in that kind of
youthful activity that he did not only please himself too
much, but his parents also more than was meet with those
tricks of vanity" (John Bruen's Life).

Queen Elizabeth entertained by Thomas Dutton for six
days at Sherborne.

1574

Richard Dutton, mayor of Chester, in conflict with
the lords of the council respecting the city charter.

24 Oct 1581

Thomas Dutton died at Sherborne, aged seventy-four.
In his will he desired that the "arms of the house
of Dutton in Cheshire, out of which house I came and
descended," be placed over his tomb.

1588

Approach of the Armada. John Dutton and Rowland
Dutton, of Chester esqs.; and William Dutton, of
Sherborne, esq., each subscribed £25 for the defence of
the country.

Sep 1592

Queen Elizabeth entertained by William Dutton for six
days at Sherborne.

30 May 1593

Death of Peter Dutton, eldest son of John Dutton of
Dutton. In 1583, on his return from his travels, sir
Christopher Hatton wrote of him that the queen was
assured he would prove "a man meet to be hereafter
employed in service to the benefit of his country."

1594

Birth of John Dutton (son of William Dutton), who
eventually succeeded to Sherborne. Born hunchbacked; and
known as "Crump Dutton." Became "one of
the richest men in England." Rebuilt Sherborne house
from designs by sir Inigo Jones. Erected by the brothers
Strong.

1603

(Sir) Thomas Dutton, of Chester, knighted by James I.
Became a captain in the low countries. In 1606, lord
Salisbury wrote in favour of him that he "is well
esteemed of by his majesty." The earl of Suffolk and
lord chancellor Ellesmere were amongst his friends at
court. Temporarily lost royal favour by killing sir
Hatton Cheke in a duel in 1610.

1608-9

John Dutton, the sole male heir-apparent of Dutton,
killed (according to family tradition) on his wedding-day
(Feb. 9). Buried at Tarvin, in Cheshire, Feb. 11, 1608-9,
aged fourteen.

1609

Marriage of the hon. Gilbert Gerard and Eleanor
Dutton, the heiress of Dutton, at Great Budworth (Sept.
16).

Death of Elizabeth Dutton, "a wife, a widow and
a maid", aged sixteen. Buried in the chancel of St.
Martin's-in-the-fields, London.

1613

William Dutton, of Sherborne, purchased the manor of
Standish, in Gloucestershire, from the Winston family.

28 Dec 1614

Death of Thomas Dutton, the last of the Duttons of
Dutton, aged forty-six. Twentieth in direct descent from
Odard. Funeral sermon preached in Great Budworth church
and afterwards printed.

10 Nov 1618

Death of William Dutton, the second family owner of
Sherborne, aged fifty-seven.

Aug 1624

(Sir) Ralph Dutton of Standish, gentleman of the
privy chamber, knighted by James I. at Woodstock.

1638

Marriage of Lucy Dutton and the earl of Downe, at
Sherborne (Nov. 26). John Dutton, her father, had
purchased the wardship and marriage of the earl, to whom
he married her.

1640

John Dutton, of Sherborne, sat in the "Long
parliament," and went to Oxford with the king, and
is said to have drafted the articles upon the surrender
of that city to the parliament. In 1642, offered to lend
Charles I. £50,000 (Lord Montagu's correspondence). Paid
£5,216 composition as a royalist for his estates.
Afterwards an admirer and personal friend of Oliver
Cromwell's, whose daughter Frances he arranged for his
nephew and heir to marry. In his will he appoints
Cromwell as guardian of his nephew, and alludes to the
proposed marriage "which I much desire and if it
take effect, shall account it as a blessing from
God." It did not take place.

1643

Charles I. entertained by Lucy (Dutton), countess of
Downe, at the Dutton manor-house at Coberley (Sept. 6),
and again in 1644 (July 11).

c. 1646

Death of sir Ralph Dutton, of Standish, a royalist
officer, said to have been wrecked and cast ashore on
Burntisland in 1646. Upon the outbreak of the civil war
he raised a regiment for the king, which was the second
raised, "and came into his majesty complete 800 with
flying colours at the setting up of his royal standard at
Nottingham." He also compiled a manual of prayers
for its use.

1653

William Dutton, the heir to Sherborne, sent by Oliver
Cromwell, his guardian, to Eton with the poet Marvell.

1656

Death of Lucy (Dutton), countess of Downe, at
Coberley (Easter day) aged thirty-two. According to the
parish register, "she fasted from eating and
drinking before her death ten days."

1656-57

Death of John Dutton of Sherborne (Feb. 18), aged
sixty-three. "He was a learned and a prudent man;
and as one of the richest so one of the meekest men in
England" (Anthony a Wood). Oliver Cromwell wrote a
letter of condolence to Mrs. Dutton of Sherborne,
alluding to the "great loss of your noble husband,
my very good friend."

1657

The Colt-Dutton lawsuit for the Sherbome estates
between John Dutton's son-in-law and his nephew (verdict
Nov. 4). "The greatest discourse of the town for
this term hath been the issue between Mr. Colt and young
Dutton for the Duttons' estate of Sherborne, which was
tried yesterday in the Upper bench; and held the court
from nine in the morning to nine at night, much gentry
being present of both sexes, but it went with Mr.
Dutton" (Francis Newport to sir R. Leveson, Nov. 3,
1657).

1665-66

Death of Eleanor, then viscountess Kilmorey (the
Dutton heiress), at Dutton (March 12). Buried at Great
Budworth.

1675

Death of William Dutton of Sherborne, formerly Oliver
Cromwell's ward (bur. April 5).

20 Jun 1678

Ralph Dutton, of Sherborne, created a baronet by
Charles II.. Represented Gloucestershire in parliament
1678-79, 1688-90, and 1695. His favourite pastime was
greyhound coursing. In 1691, he was described in a
newsletter, as "one of the chief men of England for
that sport."

22 Oct 1680

Sir Richard Dutton appointed governor of
Barbados.Originally of Chester, left the law at the age
of seventeen for the army, served as a royalist officer
throughout the civil war; and was twice imprisoned in the
Tower. Became an officer in the duke of York's guards,
and knighted by Charles II. Arrived at Barbados March,
1681. Twice thanked by Charles II. for his vigorous
administration of the colony, but eventually made
enemies. Returned 1683. "I hope sir Richard's
home-coming will be for his honour and advantage what
endeavours soever have been used to lessen him there. Sir
Richard has been known to be more a soldier than a
lawyer, which I presume is the reason he committed the
jurisdiction of the court of grand sessions to those that
were better skilled in the laws than himself"
(Letter to Pepys, 1685). Made his will in 1702-3,
"being of great age," and died shortly
afterwards. (His elder daughter was a legatee under the
will of lady Dutton, of Sherborne, in 1721, who described
her as her cousin.)

1683

Birth of John, son of sir Ralph Dutton of Sherborne, whom he succeeded in the baronetcy.

3 Sep 1711

Duke of Hamilton created Baron of Dutton. Killed in a
duel with lord Mohun the following year (Nov. 15).

1 Jun 1728

Marriage of sir John Dutton, bart., with his second
wife, Mary Keck, at Hampstead by the bishop of Ely.